Possessives are forms of nouns, pronouns, or sometimes adjectives, that show ownership or a close relationship between one thing and another. In English, possessives are commonly formed by adding an apostrophe and -s ('s) to a noun, or by using possessive pronouns. They connect the owner to what is owned, providing a clear way to express relationships and belonging in a sentence.
- Show ownership or belonging.
- Common forms: 's for nouns, possessive pronouns (my, your, his, her, its, our, their).
- Important for expressing relationships clearly.
Possessives are forms of nouns or pronouns that show ownership or a close relationship between things.
Noun Possessives
Most singular nouns add 's to show possession, even if the noun ends in s (e.g., the boss's car). For plural nouns that already end in s, just add an apostrophe (e.g., the teachers' lounge). For irregular plurals not ending in s, add 's (e.g., children's toys).
| Noun Type | Possessive Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | 's | The cat's toy |
| Singular ending in s | 's | The boss's car |
| Plural (ends in s) | Apostrophe (') | The dogs' owner |
| Plural (irregular) | 's | The children's book |
- Use 's for most singular nouns.
- For plural nouns ending in s, add only an apostrophe.
- Use 's for irregular plural nouns.
Add 's to most singular nouns to form the possessive.
For plural nouns ending in s, just add an apostrophe (e.g., 'dogs' → 'dogs'').
Pronoun Possessives
Possessive pronouns replace the noun and make ownership clear without repeating the thing owned. They are: my/mine, your/yours, his, her/hers, its, our/ours, their/theirs.
| Subject | Adjective Possessive | Pronoun Possessive |
|---|---|---|
| I | My | Mine |
| You | Your | Yours |
| He | His | His |
| She | Her | Hers |
| It | Its | (rare) |
| We | Our | Ours |
| They | Their | Theirs |
- Use possessive adjectives (my, your) before nouns.
- Use possessive pronouns (mine, yours) alone, without a noun.
Correct possessive pronouns include mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.
Possessive pronouns replace the noun and include forms like mine, yours, his, hers.
Adjectives and Pronouns
Possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns both show ownership, but they are used differently:
- Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) modify nouns:
We brought our books.
- Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs) replace nouns and stand alone:
The books are ours.
Possessive adjectives come before nouns, while possessive pronouns stand alone.
No, possessives include noun forms and possessive pronouns.
Possessives with Compound Nouns and Multiple Owners
For compound nouns, add 's to the end of the whole compound:
- Mother-in-law's advice
When two or more people share ownership, add 's to the last name only:
- Jack and Jill's bucket
If ownership is separate, give each person a possessive form:
- Jack's and Jill's coats
- For compound nouns, add 's at the end of the compound.
- For shared ownership, add 's to the last owner’s name.
- For separate ownership, give each owner a possessive.
For multiple owners sharing possession, add 's to the last owner’s name.
If ownership is separate, use possessives for each owner (e.g., Jack's and Jill's coats).
Exercises
- Form Possessives: Write the possessive forms for these nouns:
Cat (singular), Boys (plural), Boss (singular), Children (plural)
Answers: Cat's, Boys', Boss's, Children's
- Match Pronouns: Match the subject pronoun to its possessive adjective and possessive pronoun:
(I, You, He, She, We, They) → (my, your, his, her, our, their), (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs)
- Use in Sentences: Write sentences using possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns correctly for the owner "Sara" (use both forms).
- Compound and Multiple Owners: Show possession correctly for:
- A mother-in-law’s recipe
- Tom and Jerry’s car (shared ownership)
- Anna’s and Mark’s backpacks (separate ownership)
Conclusion
Possessives are essential for expressing ownership and relationships, and they appear in various forms for nouns and pronouns.
- Nouns typically add 's (or just ' for plural), while pronouns have unique forms (my/mine, etc.).
- Understanding how to use possessives with compounds and multiple owners helps avoid common errors.
- Mastery of possessives improves clarity and precision in communication.
A possessive shows ownership or a close relationship between things.
Use 's for singular nouns; add only an apostrophe for plural nouns ending in s.
Pronouns also have possessive forms, like my/mine and your/yours.
For shared ownership, add 's to the last name only.
Possessive adjectives (my, your) come before a noun; possessive pronouns (mine, yours) stand alone.
Correct possessive pronouns include ours, yours, mine, theirs.
For compound nouns, add 's to the end of the whole compound.
For separate ownership, use possessives for both (e.g., Jack's and Jill's cars).